Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan has withdrawn its 10-day-long agitation after receiving certain concrete promises and directions for investigations in the issues related to corruption vis-a-vis housing rights and land scams throughout Mumbai.

The state government has agreed to conduct an enquiry through the Principal Secretary, Housing into SRA projects in 6 localities - Golibar, Ambedkar Nagar - Mulund, Ramnagar - Ghatkopar, Chandivali, Sion-koliwada, Indira Nagar and Jogeshwari, defining the modus operandi involving all stakeholders and holding public hearings. It has also taken a firm decision to take Tajiv Awas Yogna (RAY) ahead besides forwarding Mandala RAY project proposal to the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai.

In
Focus

While the Andolan was going on, all the things were moving in the right path. However, within a few days of withdrawal of the agitation and announcement of inquiry into the six SRA projects marred with fraudulent approval, and involving irregularities and illegalities, the harassment of the people has been started by the henchmen of developers under the tight police protection.

Few examples of this harassment are cutting of public water supply and locking the doors of fencing compound just to block the way of local residents of Sion Koliwada. No cognizance was taken by Police and MCGM authorities. In Golibar, Ambewadi, on 18 Jan 2013, developer with help of his 70-80 henchmen entered the fence of the demolished area where the henchmen started assaulting the women with stones and bamboos to vacate the place. These women were badly assaulted and were admitted to a hospital as they were severely injured.

Nirmal Nagar Police Station has not taken any cognizance of the matter and was playing pro-builder role. On the contrary, an FIR has been registered in the favour of the developer’s henchmen and against the people who have raised their voice against the injustice.

Nirmal Nagar Police station has set up a trap for the people who are raising their voice against the injustice and are fighting for their rights by registering false cases i.e. C.R. No.17/13 u/s. 143,323,324,342,354,427,447,504,506 IPC wherein they have prepared FIR against the whistle blowers and the ones who are playing leading roles in exposing frauds of the developers. The most important question for police and authorities is that on what basis SRP and police protection are provided here to private person/body?

Demolition drive is still going on in different parts of slums and localities. Today demolition and eviction was carried out at M.H.B Colony, Opp. Balvikas school, Sarvoday nagar, Jogeshwari(E), wherein MHADA officials came for eviction and demolition without any orders and denied to show the same. Same was the case with the police authority, when the questions were asked regarding if any, letter received by them from MHADA for providing police protection to carry out the eviction and demolition activity.

Then the question arises that how, before receiving the letter for providing the police protection from the concerned authority, protection was provided by Police Authority for eviction process. In this process literally, the policemen had manhandled and pulled the residents out of their houses in which they had not even bothered about the senior-old aged people. One old lady had got injured in this eviction process which was without any intimation and notice.

Activists declared their “strong protest” against such an act. Protesting against all the injustice and harassment, Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan with various slums as well as middle class localities across Mumbai has decided to continue and even intensify the struggle at Ambewadi Golibar, Mumbai, to reach out to the government.

The struggle of Mumbai’s slum dwellers and those affected by corruption in Slum Rehabilitation and Re-development, continues at Ambewadi Golibar, Mumbai. They also expressed solidarity with the slum dwellers of Bangalore who are facing evictions and police repression at EWS quarters at Ejipura by BBMP. The Andolan demanded that illegal demolitions by state be resisted at all costs and “we will stand in solidarity wherever homes will be demolished across the country”.

Andolan also demanded that Maharashtra Government takes firm and concrete decisions, investigates into corruption and irregularities as well as Government should also carry out inquiry on Police Administration & Authorities for providing police protection to private bodies.